Electrical relays



; July 30, 1963 N. F, LEO 3,099,729

ELECTRICAL RELAYS Filed July 26. 1960 I I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. A/xa A Z50 July 30, 1963 Filed July 26, 1960 ELECTRICAL RELAYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 YINVENTOR. Max/ [:0

United States Patent "i ce 3,099,729 ELECTRICAL RELAYS Nick F. Leo, 6058 Mary Ellen, Van Nllys, Calif. Filed July 26, 1960, Ser. No. 45,471 Claims. (Cl. 200104) This invention deals generally with electrical control devices and, more particularly, with improved electrical relays.

My issued US. Patent No. 2,904,653 dated September '115, 1959, and entitled Relays discloses an electrical relay equipped with a self-contained electrical switch unit or the well-known microswitch type which is operated by an electromagnetically actuated armature of the relay and furnishes the relay contacts. This relay possesses certain highly desirable features of construction and operation which especially adapt the relay to use in modern, miniaturized electrical and electronic equipment, especially thatusedin airplanes and missiles. These features include miniature size, light weight, improved electrical operating characteristics, such as higher current capacity, extreme sensitivity to electrical control signals, capability of rapid operation, and insensitivity to external forces, such as shock and vibration forces and forces created by velocity changes of direction or magnitude.

A general object of this invention is to provide an electrical relay of the type disclosed in my issued patent which possesses all of the desirable features of the prior relay and certain additional, highly important features.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an electrical relay of the character described which affords a simple and unique means for adjusting the armature of the relay with respect to the button of the selflcontained electrical switch unit operated by the armature.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical relay of the character described which is equipped with a plurality of self-contained switch units that render the relay capable of simultaneously controlling several electrical circuits.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an electrical relay according to the foregoing object in which the several switch units are operated by a common, electromagnetically actuated armature having a plurality of separate, bendable switch-operating fingers that may be individually adjusted with respect to the operating buttons of their respective switch units.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electrical relay of the character described in which the several self-contained switch units are arranged for simultaneous actuation by the armature of the relay.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide an electrical relay of the character described in which the self-contained switch units are arranged for alternate actuation by the armature of the relay.

A still further object of the invention is to provide electrical relays according to the two foregoing objects which utilize the same simple and economical frame structure.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a relay which is of miniature size, light weight, and possesses the other desirable features of construction and operation preliminarily mentioned that uniquely adapt the relays to their intended purposes.

The invention will now be described in detail by reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, or one form of the present relay;

FIG.. 2 is an elevational view of the left side of the relay as it is viewed in FIG. 1, the case of the relay being in section;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

3,099,729 Patented July 30, 1963 FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the relay;

FIG. '5 is an enlarged detail illustrating the movements of the relay armature;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section through a modified relay or" the invention;

FIG. 7 is a section taken along line'77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail illustrating the armature of the modified relay;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective of the armature; and

FIG. 10 is a side elevation illustrating the manner of adjusting the armature of FIG. 9.

The relay illustrated in FIGS. 1-5' of these drawings comprises a frame "20 including a lower, generally channel-shaped member 22 of non-magnetic material and an upper, generally channel-shaped member 24 having low magnetic retentivity. The base 26 of the channel member 22 extends a distance beyond the right-hand edges of the legs 28 of the member, as the latter is viewed in FIG. 4, and a distance beyond the'left-hand edges of the legs 28.

The base 26 or" the lower channel member :22 has a pair of slots 30 which open through the left-hand edge of the base and are bounded on one side by the legs 28 of the lower channel member, as shown. The legs 32 of the upper channel member 24 fit within these slots 30. The slots are slightly narrower than the thickness of the legs of the upper channel member requiring the legs to be grooved, as shown at 34, to receive the edge portions of the base 26 that define the inner longitudinal sides of the slots 30. After assembly of the channel members, in this way, the latter are rigidly joined by brazing, for example. The lower ends of the legs 32 or" the upper channel member have right-angle portions 36 which extend across the inside of the legs 28 on the lower channel member.

The entire relay structure is enclosed within a hermetic housing consisting of a cylindrical case 38 having an integral end wall 40 and a disc 42 which closes the lower end of the case 38. This disc has a pair of diametrically opposed notches 44 which receive tongues 46 on the lower ends of the legs 28 of the lower channel member 22. 'lI'he disc 42 is brazed or otherwise rigidly secured to these egs.

The contacts (not shown) of the relay are furnished by a plurality of self-contained electrical switch units 48, preferably of the well-known microswitch tyme. These switch units are mounted side by side between the legs 28 of the lower channel member 22 and are secured to the lower channel member by means of pins 50 which extend through the latter legs and the housings of the switch units. Each switch unit 4-8 includes a depressible, spring-extended operating button 52. The extension springs for these buttons, as well as the contacts of the switch units, are enclosed within the housings of the units and, therefore, are not visible in the drawings.

The selfcontained switch units 48 are arranged so that their operating buttons 52 are located in a row extending normal to the legs 28 and parallel to the base 26 of the lower channel member 22. These buttons are operated by magnetic armature 54 which is positioned between the legs of the lower channel member and within the space 56 existing between the switch units and the base 26 of the latter member. This armature includes a that, generally rectangular body 58 which is pivotally mounted on the frame 20 of the relay by means of a pivot pin 60. This pin extends through the body 5 8 of the armature, intermediate and parallel to its rightand left-hand edges, as the relay is viewed in FIG. 3, and is pivotally supported at its ends in the right angular extensions 36 on the legs 32 of the upper channel member 24 for pivoting of the armature on an axis 62 parallel to the base 26 of the lower channel member and the row of switch buttons 52.

Extending from the right-hand edge of the armature plate 58, as the relay is viewed in FIG. 1, are a number of downwardly extending, right angular switch-operating fingers 64. These switch-operating fingers are aligned with the switch units 48, respectively, and bear, at their lower ends, against the operating buttons 52 of their respective switch units. The arrangement is such that when the armature 54 pivots in a clockwise direction on its axis 62, as the relay is viewed in FIG. l, or in the counterclockwise direction as the relay is viewed in FIGS. 3 and 5, the armature fingers 64 press inwardly against the switch buttons 52 and depress the latter against the action of their respective springs (not shown). The force exerted by the switch springs on the armature fingers, of course, tends to pivot the armature in a counterclockwise direction.

As shown best in FIG. 4, an L shaped finger 66 is struck upwardly from .the center of the base 26 of the lower channel member adjacent the left-hand edge of the base, leaving a slot 68 in the base which underlies the right-angled end 70 of the finger. Connected between the end 70 of this finger and the adjacent left-hand edge of the armature plate 58 is a tension spring 72. This spring tends to pivot the armature against the action of the springs (not shown) of the switch buttons 52. The tension in spring 72 is set so that it just overcomes the combined force exerted on the armature by all of the springs (not shown) of the switch buttons 52. Normally, therefore, the armature is retained, by its spring 72, in its solid line limiting position of FIG. 5 in which the several switch buttons are depressed against the action of their springs by the armature fingers 64. The armature plate 58 carries an adjustable stop screw 74, the engagement of which with the underside of the base 26 of the lower channel member 22 limits pivoting of the armature under the action of its spring 72. This stop screw is initially set to permit just suflicient counterclockwise pivoting ot the armature, as the relay is viewed in FIGS. 3 and 5, to assure complete actuation of the switch units 48 and is then fixed in this adjusted position in any suitable way, such as by applying a drop of adhesive to the set screw, as shown.

The armature 54 is rocked, against the action of its spring 72, to release the switch buttons 52 for extension of the latter by their respective springs, by energizing of a pair of electromagnetic coils 76. These coils are arranged between the base 26 of the lower channel member 22 and an overlying portion of the base 78 of the upper channel member 24 with the axes of the coils extending normal to these bases and intersecting the armature plate 58 adjacent its left-hand edge, as the relay is viewed in FIGS. 3 and 5. Each coil has a core 80 consisting of a pin having low magnetic retentivity. The lower end of the pin has an enlarged, circular head 82 located below the base 26 of the lower channel member and just above the armature plate 58. Each pin further includes a slender shank 84 which extends through the coil and has a reduced upper end which fits in a hole in the base 78 of the upper channel member 24. The upper end of this reduced shank end is peened to rigidly secure the pin in position. In the normal, solid line position of the armature 54 in FIGS. 3 and 5, a narrow gap 86 exists between the heads 82 on the pins 80 and the armature plate 58.

Energizing of the magnetic coils 76 creates a magnetic field that rocks the armature 54, against the action of its spring 72, to the phantom line position of FIG. 5 in which the armature fingers 64 release the switch buttons 52 for extension of the latter by their springs (not shown). When the coils are de-energized, of course, the armature is returned to its normal position by its spring 72 with resultant depression of the switch buttons 52 against the action of their springs. It will be observed that the flux path for the magnetic lines of force is through the pins or cores of the coils, across the narrow gaps 86 between the lower ends of the pins and the armature plate 58, through the armature plate to the legs 32 of the upper channel member 24, and thence through the base 78 of this member to the pins 80. This path is, therefore, substantially a closed path which, together with the balancing of the armature spring 72 against the springs (not shown) of switch buttons 52, previously discussed, provides the relay with extreme sensitivity.

The terminals of the switch units 48 and the terminals of the magnetic coils 76 are connected through leads generally denoted by the numeral 88 to a series of mutually insulated terminals 90 depending from the underside of the end closure disc 42 of the relay housing. When connecting the relay in an external circuit, therefiore, it is only necessary to connect the leads of the external circuit to the appropriate terminals 90 of the relay. The microswitc units 48 may obviously be of the normally closed or normally open type or a mixture of these two types. If a particular switch unit is of the normally open type, of course, it will be retained in its normally closed condition, by the action of the armature spring 72, when the relay coils 76 are de-energized and will be returned to its normally open state by energizing of these coils. Similarly, if a switch unit is of the normally closed type, it will be retained in its open condition, by the action of the armature spring 72, when the relay coils 76 are deenergized and will be restored to its normally closed condition by energizing of the coils.

A primary feature of the invention resides in making the armature fingers 64 of a flexible material such that they may be individually bent toward and away from their respective switch buttons 52 to elfect individual adjustment of the armature fingers with respect to the switch buttons, as indicated in phantom lines in FIG. 3. This adjustment may be made, for example, for the purpose of obtaining exactly simultaneous actuation of the several switch units by the armature. Thus, owing to slight structural differences in the difierent switch units 48, slight difierences in the travel of their buttons 52, and slight inaccuracies in lining up the switch units during installation thereof in the frame 20 of the relay, it is essential that each armature finger be initially adjusted with respect to its particular switch button 52 to assure that the button will be properly depressed when the armature is in its normal position and properly released when the armature is rock-ed by energizing of the relay coils 76 as well as to assure that the several switch units will be simultaneously operated by the single armature 54 of the relay. As just mentioned, this individual adjustment of the armature fingers with respect to their particular switch buttons is accomplished by bending each finger toward or away from its respective button, as required.

FIGS. 6-l0 illustrate an alternative form of the present relay which utilizes the same frame structure 20, hermetic housing, and magnetic coil arrangement as the relay just described. In this modified relay, a pair of self-contained switch units 102 and 104 of the microswitc type are operated in an alternate fashion by a rectangular magnetic armature 106. This armature is located in the space between the switch units and the base 26 of the lower channel member 22 of the frame 20 and is pivotally supported on the frame 20 by a pin 108 for pivoting of the armature on an axis parallel to the base 26 and intermediate and parallel to the rightand left-hand edges of the armature, as the relay is viewed in FIG. 6. A spring 110 is connected between the finger 66 on the frame 20 and the right-hand edge of the armature to bias the latter to its normal, solid line position of FIG. 6. The lefthand edge of the armature underlies the enlarged, lower ends 82 of the cores of relay coils 76 so that when these coils are energized, the armature is rocked against the action of its spring 110 to its phantom line position of FIG. 6.

Mounted on the underside of the armature 106, parallel to and at opposite sides of its pivot axis, are a pair of switch-operating fingers 112. The switch units 102 and 104 aremounted between the legs 28 of the lower channel member 22 of the relay frame 20 and are located directly below-these fingers, respectively, as shown best in FIGS. 6 and 8. Fingers 112 are fixed at one end to the armature and bear at their other ends against the spring-extended opea-rting buttons 1140f the respective switch units 102 and 104.

.In the normal, solid line position of the armature 106 in FIG. 6, button 114 of the .left hand switch unit 102 is depressed, against the action of its srping (not shown), by its armature finger 112while the button 114 of the right-hand switch unit 104 is released by its respective armature finger 112 and is, therefore, extended by its sp i {mt qwm- W n the re coils a energized, a magnetic field is created which rocks the armature to its phantom line position of FIG. 6, also shown in FIG. 8, against the action of its spring 110. In this latter position, the button 114 of the left-hand switch unit 102 is released by its armature finger 112 for extension of the switch button by its spring (not shown), while the button 114 of the righthand switch unit 104 is depressed, against the action of its spring (not shown), by its respective armature finger 112.

Thus, in this modified relay, the two switch uni-ts 102 and 104 are operated alternately by the armature, rather than simultaneously as in the earlier relay. The switchoperating fingers 112 of the modified relay are made of a flexible material, as in the earlier relay, so that they may be bent, as indicated in phantom lines in FIG. 10'. The fingers are bent in this way to adjust them with respect to their respective switch buttons 114 for the purpose of assuring proper operation of both switch units by the single armature, as in the relay described first.

As in the earlier relay, the terminals of the switch units 102 and 104 are connected to the external terminals 90 of the relay case 38 for connection of the relay in an external electrical circuit.

Clearly, the invention hereinbefore described and illustrated is fully capable of attaining the objects and advantages preliminarily set forth.

While certain presently preferred forms of the invention have been disclosed, these are intended to be purely illustrative in nature since numerous modifications in the design and arrangement of parts of the invention are obviously possible within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical relay comprising a frame, a plurality of electrical switch units mounted side by side on said frame in spaced parallel planes of the :frame, an Lshaped switch-operating member having two legs positioned in angularly disposed planes substantially normal to said firstmentioned planes and arranged with one leg opposite one side of said switch units and the other leg opposite another side of the switch units whereby said switch units are positioned between said legs, means pivotally mounting said one leg on the frame for pivoting of the operating member on an axis substantially normal to said first mentioned planes, said other leg comprising approximately parallel, separately bendable switch-operating fingers, each switch unit including a spring-extended button at said other side thereof engaged by the adjacent switch-operating finger, said fingers swinging toward the switch units to depress said buttons against the action of their springs upon pivoting of the operating member in one direction and said fingers swinging away from said switch units to release said buttons for extension by their springs upon pivoting of the operating member in the opposite direction, said fingers being separately bendable toward and away from said switch units to individually adjust the fingers relative to their respective switch buttons, and means for selectively pivoting said operating member to operate said switch units.

2. The subject matter of claim 1 wherein said lastrnentioned means comprises .a spring acting between the frame and said operating member for biasing the latter in said one pivotal direction with just sulficient force to retain said buttons depressed against the action of their springs, a magnetic armature on said one leg of the operating member, and solenoid means on the frame for creating a magnetic field which acts on said armatureto pivot said operating member in said opposite direction when the solenoid means, are energized.

3. An electrical relay comprising a frameincluding a first channel member oflow magnetic gretentivity, a second channel member of non-magnetic material having its base positioned between thelegs of the first channel member, an electromagnetic coil mounted between said base of the second channel member and the base of the first channel member and including a central core of low magnetic retentivity having one end extending through the base of the second channel member, an armature plate of low magnetic retentivity positioned between the legs of the second channel member, said plate having one end located opposite said one end of said core, a pivot pin passing through the legs of the second channel member parallel to its base and through said armature plate approximately parallel to and spaced from said end thereof to pivotally support said plate on said second channel member for swinging of said one end of the plate toward and away from said one end of the core, an electrical switch mounted between the legs of the second channel member at the side of said plate opposite said coil, a switchoperating finger extending from said end of and approximately normal to the armature plate and terminating opposite one side of the switch, said switch including a spring'extended operating button at said one side thereof engaged by said finger, said finger swinging toward said switch to depress said button upon pivoting of said atmature plate away from said core and said finger swinging away from said switch to release said button for normal spring extension thereof upon pivoting of the armature toward said core, a spring acting between said frame and armature plate for biasing the latter away from said core with sufiicient force to depress said button, and said coil being selectively energizable to create a magnetic field which acts on said armature plate to pivot the latter toward said core and thereby release said switch button.

4. The subject matter of claim 3 including a plurality of additional switches, said switches being arranged side by side in parallel planes normal to the pivot axis of the armature plate, a plurality of additional switch-operating fingers extending from said one end of the armature plate substantially parallel to said first-mentioned finger and terminating opposite said additional switches, respectively, each additional switch including a spring-extended operating button engaging its respective switch-operating finger, and said fingers being separately bendable toward and away from their respective switches to individually adjust said fingers relative to their respective switch buttons.

5. An electrical relay comprising a frame including a first channel member of low magnetic retentivity, a second channel member of non-magnetic material having its base positioned between the legs of the first channel member, an electromagnetic coil mounted between said base of the second channel member and the base of the first channel member and including a central core of low magnetic retentivity having one end extending through the base of the second channel member, an armature plate of low magnetic retentivity positioned between the legs of the second channel member, said plate having one end disposed opposite said one end of said core, a pivot pin passing through the legs of the second channel member parallel to its base and through said armature plate intermediate the ends of the plate, a pair of electrical switches mounted side by side between the legs of the second chan- 8 nel member at one side of said armature plate and located References Cited in the file of this patent at-opposite sides of the pivot axis of the plate, a spring- UNITED STATES PATENTS extended button on each switch opposite the ad acent end of the plate, a bendable finger on each end of the ane 5,949 stafiord Sept. 16, 1930 engaging the adjacent button so that pivoting of said plate 5 ,11 Price July 1, 1947 'in either direction depresses one button against the a tion 5 B IIaIln Oct. 17, 1950 Of its spring and releases the other but-ton for extension by 2,556,716 V1 1 June 12, 1951 its spring, said fingers being individually bendable toward 2, 78,340 De Lancey Dec. 11, 1951 and away from their respective switches to individually 2,650,957 Cohen p 1, 1953 'adjust the fingers with respect to their respective switch 10 2,765,349 Ham urg Oct. 9, 1956 buttons, a spring acting between the frame and armature 3 Leo Sept. 15, 1959 plate for biasing the latter in a direction to move said one 1 ,5 McDiarmid Nov. 10, 1959 end of the plate away from said one end of the core with ,9 ,078 Hale June 21, 1960 sufficient force to depress the corresponding switch button, and said coil being selectively energizable to pivot the 15 FOREIGNPATENTS plate in the opposite direction. 558,073 Italy Feb. 23, 1957 

1. AN ELECTRICAL RELAY COMPRISING A FRAME, A PLURALITY OF ELECTRICAL SWITCH UNITS MOUNTED SIDE BY SIDE ON SAID FRAME IN SPACED PARALLEL PLANES OF THE FRAME, AN L-SHAPED SWITCH-OPERATING MEMBER HAVING TWO LEGS POSITIONED IN ANGULARLY DISPOSED PLANES SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO SAID FIRSTMENTIONED PLANES AND ARRANGED WITH ONE LEG OPPOSITE ONE SIDE OF SAID SWITCH UNITS AND THE OTHER LEG OPPOSITE ANOTHER SIDE OF THE SWITCH UNITS WHEREBY SAID SWITCH UNITS ARE POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID LEGS, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID ONE LEG ON THE FRAME FOR PIVOTING OF THE OPERATING MEMBER ON AN AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO SAID FIRST MENTIONED PLANES, SAID OTHER LEG COMPRISING APPROXIMATELY PARALLEL, SEPARATELY BENDABLE SWITCH-OPERATING FINGERS, EACH SWITCH UNIT INCLUDING A SPRING-EXTENDED BUTTON AT SAID OTHER SIDE THEREOF ENGAGED BY THE ADJACENT SWITCH-OPERATING FINGER, SAID FINGERS SWINGING TOWARD THE SWITCH UNITS TO DEPRESS SAID BUTTONS AGAINST THE ACTION OF THEIR SPRINGS UPON PIVOTING OF THE OPERATING MEMBER IN ONE DIRECTION AND SAID FINGERS SWINGING AWAY FROM SAID SWITCH UNITS TO RELEASE SAID BUTTONS FOR EXTENSION BY THEIR SPRINGS UPON PIVOTING OF THE OPERATING MEMBER IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, SAID FINGERS BEING SEPARATELY BENDABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID SWITCH UNITS TO INDIVIDUALLY ADJUST THE FINGERS RELATIVE TO THEIR RESPECTIVE SWITCH BUTTONS, AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY PIVOTING SAID OPERATING MEMBER TO OPERATE SAID SWITCH UNITS. 